Being the Light in the Darkness Through Storytelling and Story Xperiential

Koraima was born in Santiago Papasquiaro, Durango, Mexico and lived in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon until she was seven years old, when her family moved to the United States.

She is as student at Lawrence Dale (L.D.) Bell High School in Hurst, Texas.

Tell us about your current Story Xperiential story/project and how you feel about winning a Story Xperiential Award. The story, Luz: A Creature in the Lightbulb, was a story that didn't came to me right away, I was planning to make a more dark story that had nothing to do with a lightbulb. After talking with a friend of mine, who is really hilarious, he pointed at a lightbulb in the ceiling that wasn't working very well and said to me, "If someone was there, they sure would be suffering." and those words stayed with me for the whole day and it became the idea behind "Luz".

Luz in her world - within a lightbulb.

This story was a bit complicated to make, because I had to have two perspectives for the story, the perspective of the man and his family, and also Luz, and keep it understandable while also maintaining its short length. I am so happy about how this story came out, and I am so proud that it was selected by others as the winner of the Grand Prize! It was so fun to make this story and it was a completely big, new experience for me.

How did you hear about Story Xperiential?

My animation teacher introduced me to Story Xperiential in 2024, and even though I didn't place in the award ceremony that year, by the end of the program, I understood how the platform worked and, in 2025, I wanted to see if I had gotten better in my storytelling skills, and it seems I did!

Koraima's rough sketch and hand-written outline.

What challenges did you face during the program, and how did you overcome them?

A challenge I faced was that, while making the three acts, I just put a lot of information that wasn't needed. But, thanks to the feedback of my peers, I understood that I was explaining what was already understood, and doing that, I was making the story more confusing. Thanks to these comments, I took out details that shouldn't have been in there, making the story shorter and a lot more understandable.

Can you share how the peer feedback aspect of the program influenced your storytelling projects?

My peers reviewed my acts and asked me questions and recommended stuff like subtitles, sound effects, color, cleaner sketches, and music. I had some of this in mind for the editing part, but the feedback of these great people helped me realize how needed these elements were and how I shouldn't forget about any of these things. That's when I wrote down everything my peers questioned about my story and the stuff that they recommended I change or add. I am so thankful for all the help they gave to me. One comment was a step towards making my story more successful, I guarantee it. 

How has the program impacted you?

Story Xperiential has impacted me in a positive way. Thanks to this program, I noticed how important it is to receive feedback from others, but more importantly, to not just ignore it and feel angry that they didn't understand your story. Instead, this time, I took it as advice. I am talking from experience. In 2024, I felt that way but I learned a lot. I also learned how all the steps to create the story are equally important. All the parts have to be taken care of with the same care and attention. The last thing that Story Xperiential has taught me is that a story well thought out is a story that will be well received and seen. What I mean by this is that you shouldn't take it easy when you are plotting for your story and creating your characters. Try to take on every part with deep attention and look, not only by yourself but also with others, if everything is as you would like it to be.

Luz feeling scared in the dark after the light is switched off.

What were some unexpected benefits you experienced from participating in Story Xperiential?

Some benefits of this program were that I learned that to tell a story you don't always need words. That was a benefit because I didn't have to use my time on voice acting. All I did was narrate the beginning and the end of the short story. 

What advice would you give to someone considering joining the Story Xperiential program?

For someone that is planning to join Story Xperiential, I would tell them this: "Use the first time you do the program to discover the territory you are stepping into, understand how the stuff works and also, try your best from the start. I promise that trying your best is not your limit, it's just where you feel comfortable staying at. If you give your all, you'll surpass TRYING your best to go and DO your best. If you follow this, you'll probably do even better the next time you are in the program. Good luck!"

What projects are you busy with now and what have you been doing since you completed your Story Xperiential project?

While I was working on Luz: A Creature Inside the Lightbulb, I was also working on a class assignment, which I am still in the process of finishing. This assignment is an educational animation, teaching young high schoolers about the 10 basic clouds that there are in our world. With these animations, I am not really putting a lot of detail in what is said, I am trying my best to animate as best I can. I am feeling really confident about this project! I am also working with a singers who's songs have been made into animated videos, and I will be helping her make more animations for her videos. I am working on one right now which will be finished in a month or two.

Luz finally finding her place in the world thanks to her unique ability to create sparks!

You can view Koraima's full storyreel here.